Smoke Free

This Law came into effect as of 1st July 2007.

The harmful effects of smoking have long been recognized and second hand smoke in particular is increasingly seen as a threat to people's health. Smoking-related illness accounts for around one fifth of all deaths. About half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their habit. "Action on Smoking and Health" (ASH) claim that every year in the UK 1,200 people (three a day) die due to second hand smoke which includes almost 4000 different chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, formaldehyde, benzene and polonium 210 as well as nicotine and tar.

Cancer

Cancers linked to smoking include, lung cancer, cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, cancer of the kidney, liver cancer, cancers of the mouth lips and throat, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, leukemia. Smokers who smoke between 1 and 14 cigarettes a day have eight times the risk of dying from lung cancer compared to non-smokers. Smokers who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day have 25 times this risk compared to non-smokers.

The Heart

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of having a heart attack by two or three times, compared with the risk to non-smokers. Women who smoke and take the contraceptive pill have 20 times the risk of a heart attack compared with those who take the pill but are non-smokers.

Menopause

Smoking leads to an earlier menopause: on average women smokers go through the menopause up to 2 years earlier than non-smokers and are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.

Male Related Issues

Smoking has been associated with increased sperm abnormalities and with impotence in men.

Smoking during pregnancy leads to an increased risk of:

• spontaneous abortion (miscarriage);
• bleeding during pregnancy;
• premature birth;
• low weight of babies at birth (which is associated with greater risks of ill-health and failure to thrive);
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death).

More general information on Smoke Free.